Jerry Summers: An Old Farmer’s Common Sense

Jerry Summers

As the Ole McDonald Farm project appears to have hit a small snag after the hired consultant didn’t give 100% approval for an industrial park (much to the chagrin of some of the Hamilton County Fathers – no sexism intended), a little levity Could put some humor into an agricultural veteran’s $16 million question:

1. Your fences need to be horse-height, firm and strong.

2. Keep possums and bankers away.

3. Life is simpler when you go around the stump.

4. A bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

5. Words that reach your ears are whispered… not shouted.

6. Evil doesn’t happen overnight.

7. Forgive your enemies; It messes with their heads.

8. Don’t corner something you know is crueler than you.

9. You don’t have to be a very big person to hold a grudge.

10. You cannot unsay a cruel word.

11. Each path has some puddles.

12. When you get involved with pigs, expect to get dirty.

13. The best sermons are lived, not preached.

14. Most of the things people worry about will never happen anyway.

15. Don’t judge people by their relatives.

16. Remember that silence is sometimes the best response.

17. Live a good and honorable life… So when you get old and think about the past, you will enjoy it a second time.

18. Don’t interfere with something that isn’t bothering you.

19. Weather has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

20. If you are in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

21. Sometimes you make it, and sometimes you make it.

22. The biggest troublemaker you will probably ever have to deal with, watches you in the mirror every morning.

23. Always drink upstream of the herd.

24. Good judgment comes from experience, and much from bad judgment.

25. Taking the cat out of the bag is much easier than putting it back.

26. If you start to think that you are a person of some influence, try ordering someone else’s dog.

27. Live simply. Love generously. Take care of yourself deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

28. Don’t fight with an old man. If he’s too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.

29. Most of the time, it all comes down to common sense

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If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers’ articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at [email protected])